Linear Differential Equation Solution

Linear Differential Equations

An equation with one or more terms, consisting of the derivatives of the dependent variable with respect to one or more independent variables is known as a differential equation.

dy/dx + Py = Q where y is a function and dy/dx is a derivative.

A linear differential equation is defined by the linear polynomial equation, which consists of derivatives of several variables. It is also stated as Linear Partial Differential Equation when the function is dependent on variables and derivatives are partial in nature.

A differential equation having the above form is known as first order linear differential equation where P and Q are either constants or functions of the independent variable (in this case x) only.

Also, the differential equation of the form, dy/dx + Py = Q, is a first order linear differential equation where P and Q are either constants or functions of y (independent variable) only.

To find linear differential equations solution, we have to derive the general form or representation of the solution.

Linear Differential Equation Solver

For finding the solution of such equations, we determine a function of the independent variable let us say M(x), which is known as the Integrating factor(I.F).

Multiplying both sides of equation (1) with the integrating factor M(x) we get;

M(x)dy/dx + M(x)Py = QM(x) …..(2)

Now we chose M(x) in such a way that the L.H.S of equation (2) becomes the derivative of y.M(x)

First Order Linear Differential Equation Solver

where P and Q are constants or functions of the independent variable x only.

To obtain the integrating factor, integrate P (obtained in step 1) with respect to x and put this integral as a power to e.

\( e^{\int Pdx} \) = I.F

Multiply both the sides of the linear first order differential equation with the I.F.

\( e^{\int Pdx} \frac{dy}{dx} + yPe^{\int Pdx} = Qe^{\int Pdx} \)

The L.H.S of the equation is always a derivative of y × M (x)

i.e. L.H.S = d(y × I.F)/dx

d(y × I.F)dx = Q × I.F

In the last step, we simply integrate both the sides with respect to x and get a constant term c to get the solution.

∴ y × I.F = \( \int Q × I.F dx + c \) ,

where C is some arbitrary constant

Similarly, we can also solve the other form of linear first order differential equation dx/dy +Px = Q using the same steps. In this form P and Q are the functions of y. The integrating factor (I.F) comes out to be and using this we find out the solution which will be

(x) × (I.F) = \( \int Q × I.F dy + c \)

Now, to get a better insight into the linear differential equation, let us try solving some questions. where C is some arbitrary constant.